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People undergoing rosacea treatment may shy away from workouts. The reason: Overexertion can cause flare-ups of the red skin, swelling, and pimples that are the hallmarks of rosacea. In fact, a survey by the National Rosacea Society found that 83 percent of rosacea patients said their condition had been aggravated by exercise at some point.

Avoiding exercise altogether can be detrimental to your rosacea treatment, however, not to mention your overall health. Among its many benefits, exercise helps reduce stress, and stress is a common trigger for rosacea. Doctors say it's best to work out and maintain your fitness level — just alter your routine to help avoid the red skin of a rosacea flare-up. In that same National Rosacea Society survey, 89 percent of respondents said simple exercise routine modifications had reduced symptoms caused by working out. Consider keeping an exercise diary so you can see what exercise factors affect your rosacea.

Tips for Exercising With Rosacea

These rosacea care suggestions will allow you to pursue an active life while reducing your risk of rosacea flare-ups:

Do try low-intensity or moderate workouts. Consider swimming or aqua aerobics exercise while remaining cool. Swimming pool water is usually kept at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which will cool the entire body even as you exert yourself. Be sure to exercise in an indoor pool that's been properly treated with chlorine — chlorine kills bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that can worsen rosacea symptoms.

Don’t exercise for more than 45 minutes-plus in one stretch.

Do break up your daily exercise session into shorter 15-minute segments spaced throughout the day. You'll gain the same cumulative benefit and reduce your chances of getting too hot. If that’s not possible, try alternating "hot" and "cool" activities: Lift weights or perform aerobic exercise for 15 minutes, then take a stretch or swim laps in the pool. Once you've cooled off, return for more weightlifting or aerobics.

Do place a cool, damp towel around your neck or dab an ice cube on your neck or wrists to help you stay cool during a workout. You can also spray your face with a spritz of cool water.

Don’t exercise outdoors when it’s hot.

Do perform outdoor activities in the cooler early morning or early evening hours during the summer, or move your workouts indoors.

Don’t exercise in a stuffy room.

Do make sure you're exercising in a cool, well-ventilated room. Run a fan or turn on your air conditioner. If the outdoor temperature is pleasant, open the windows to create a cross breeze.

Don’t let yourself get dehydrated.

Do drink plenty of water. Ten to 12 glasses of water a day are recommended to help your body's natural cooling system function properly. This is a suggested part of rosacea care, regardless of the amount of exercise you do.

Finally, remember that a little red skin is only natural when you work out. "Everybody turns red when they exert themselves," says Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in High Point, North Carolina, and consulting professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

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